This survey was performed to determine the relationship between the adherence to hypertension drug treatment and
the perception of stress, depression, hypertension, and myocardial infarction. 300 patients with uncomplicated hypertension
from Rijeka, Croatia, were included (131 women, 169 men, mean age 53.5 years). Adherence to hypertension drug
treatment as criterion, and the perception of stress, depression hypertension and myocardial infarction as prediclors were
determined by self-assessment. Collected data were analysed using factor analysis, regression analysis, Kolmogorov-
Smirnov test, χ2-test and t-test. The statistical signifi cance was set at a probability rate of less than 5% (p<0.05). 45.09%
of women (p=0.479), and 64.08% of men (p=0.032) were motivated to take antihypertensives. 55.79% of women (p=0.382)
and 64.78% of men (p=0.028) had suffi cient knowledge about drug treatment of hypertension. The positive predictors of
motivation for taking antihypertensives were physiological disturbances and perceived potency of hypertension and the
negative were perceived helplessness in stress control and negative thoughts and emotions. The positive predictors of
knowledge about taking antihypertensives were perceived helplessness in stress control, perceived potency of hypertension
and myocardial infarction and the negative predictors were perceived self-effi cacy in stress control, physiological disturbances
and evaluation of hypertension. Both the motivation as well as the knowledge about taking antihypertensives
should be improved, especially in women. The perception of stress, depression, hypertension and myocardial infarction
can be used to predict adherence to hypertension drug treatment.